10 Places in Pensacola to Honor and Celebrate Black History
Read along to find all the places to honor and celebrate black history in the Pensacola Bay Area.
African American History
Pensacola boasts more than 460 years of history with heavy African American influences from its very beginning in 1559.
Pensacola’s African American culture has its strongest roots in the Belmont-DeVilliers district of Downtown Pensacola. Back in the day, Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Aretha Franklin performed in local nightclubs as they toured the “Chitlin’ Circuit.” A historic marker designates this area as an official stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail, celebrating its musical legacy.
The Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years and is now home to Five Sister’s Blues Café and beloved neighborhood eateries, including Blue Dot BBQ and The Dwarf Chicken Stand. Commemorate your visit by snapping a photo in front of one of the outdoor murals illustrating the area’s rich history.
Take a tour of Historic Pensacola Village to see Julee Cottage, the home of Julee Panton, a free black businesswoman who worked to help slaves gain their freedom. A visit to the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center allows you to listen to stories from the past and learn about the diverse influences that shaped our city. Nearby you’ll find the Chappie James Museum which honors Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first African American four-star general in the U.S. Air Force.
Beachgoers to Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key can learn about the cultural significance of Johnson Beach. This pristine stretch of beach is named in honor of Pvt. Rosamond Johnson, who died at the young age of 17 while rescuing three fellow soldiers in Korea. At the time of Johnson’s death, this beach was the only beach park in Escambia County designated for black use. Today, it is enjoyed by all and was recognized by USA Today as the No. 2 National Park Beach in 2016.
As you explore Pensacola, you’ll find traces of its African-American heritage everywhere. The highlighted experiences below are a great place to start planning your itinerary.
Dive Deeper:
Voices, History, and Culture Across the Pensacola Bay Area
An Insider’s Look at Black History Month in Pensacola
This gives me (and so many of my friends) the chance to celebrate and reflect on the beautiful and strong history of African-Americans in Pensacola.
A Melting Pot of Multicultural Experiences
Our cultural jambalaya of flavors – Native American, African, Latin, European and Asian – adds to the richness of our shared heritage.
Museums
While visitors flock to Pensacola for fun in the sun, there's a wealth of fascinating history and culture to discover in the community’s diverse museums. Be…
Museums & Historic Sites
Belmont- DeVillers
321 N De Villiers St, #301
Pensacola, FL 32501
Belmont-DeVilliers is a historic neighborhood located in Pensacola, Florida. It is known for its rich history, cultural significance, and vibrant community.
The neighborhood is situated just west of downtown Pensacola, between Belmont Street and DeVilliers Street.
General Daniel Chappie James Museum of Pensacola, Inc.
1606 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Dr.
Pensacola, FL 32503
(850) 542-4721
This home is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Not only was this the childhood home of Chappie James, it also served as a place where African-American children went for tutoring services.
Later, Lillie Ann James, Chappie James' mother, opened a small school directly behind their home to help educate children in the community. As enrollment grew, the James' purchased the home next to their original home.
The James' home was the epicenter of education for the community.
This historical museum will showcase the life of General Daniel “Chappie” James, highlighting his life and accomplishments. The keys to his success are intended for young students and visitors alike. Born and raised in Pensacola, educated at his mother’s school, he graduated from Washington High School and attended Tuskegee Institute where he became one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen and served in the 99th Squadron. General James’ life is a role model for students as they study science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The museum interactive center will focus on discipline, teamwork, self-esteem and confidence, all essential to good leadership.
Fort Pickens — Gulf Islands National Seashore
1400 Fort Pickens Road
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
(850) 934-2600
Fort Pickens is one of four military forts designed to protect Pensacola in the 1800s. Located on Pensacola Beach on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is accessible by foot and boat and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Entrance fees are required and collected upon admittance into the park. The Fort Pickens area is anchored by the historic landmark and offers many recreational activities including fishing both from the shore and the pier, exploring trails and the fort, birdwatching, camping and so much more. A visitor information center is located at the west end of the island and includes a history museum on the area.
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Entrance fees are required and collected at the following areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore: Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach at the Santa Rosa Area, Okaloosa Area, Fort Barrancas Area, and Perdido Key Area. All Interagency America the Beautiful passes are accepted for entry into these areas.
Commercial Groups Per vehicle (capacity 6 or less)....$25 plus; $10 per person An entrance pass is good for one to seven days at all locations. Interagency passes waive all entrance fees. Frequent visitors may be interested in the park's annual pass which provides access to the national seashore during normal operating hours for twelve months from the date of purchase. Educational groups should visit our Educational Programs page for educational fee waivers. Park Annual Pass..........................................................$45 |
Historic Pensacola
330 South Jefferson St
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 595-5985
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
We invite you to explore Historic Pensacola and experience the rich heritage of America’s first multi-year European settlement.
Historic Pensacola encompasses eight and a half acres and 28 properties located within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts in downtown Pensacola.
Our “One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore” ticketing enables you to leisurely visit all of the museums, participate in guided and self-guided tours of historic homes and interact with period-dressed living history interpreters. Come be a part of history being brought to life!
Admission:
Adults: $12
Seniors 65+, Active Military & Dependents, AAA Members, Pensacola Museum of Art Members, and UWF Alumni Association Members: $11
Children (3-14): $7
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cardholder: Free for up to four individuals per EBT card
Members: FREE
UWF Students: Free with Nautilus card.
Buy Tickets here! Tickets provide admission to the Pensacola Museum of History, Historic Pensacola Village, and the Pensacola Museum of Art.
Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center
117 E Government St
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 595-5840
Opened in 2014, this multicultural center highlights the diversity of the city through dynamic exhibits representative of the cultural groups that have shaped Pensacola history.
On the second floor is the Hilton-Green Research Room, which houses a vast variety of documents, maps and photographs.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
Voices of Pensacola is a popular special events venue.
Dr. Martin Luther King Plaza
50 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 436-5670
Dr. Martin Luther King Plaza is a memorial park on the Palafox Street median between Chase and Gregory Streets (location of the old trolley tracks). The park honors the memory of revolutionary Civil Rights Movement leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The plaza was dedicated on January 18, 1993 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).
At the center of the park is a bust of Dr. King that was sculpted by Atlanta artist Ayokunle Odeleye and was installed in December 1992. At the base of the bust is a plaque inscribed with an excerpt from Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1964:
“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
The Palafox Market is held at the MLK Plaza on Saturday mornings in the summer and many marches and demonstrations have taken place at this site over the years.
St. Michael’s Cemetery
6 N. Alcaniz St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 436-4643
St. Michael's Cemetery was developed on the distant outskirts of the Spanish colonial city of Pensacola. Formally surveyed by the Spanish in 1807, St. Michael's Cemetery may have been used as a burial ground as early as the mid-1700s. Preliminary investigations suggest that along with the 3,200 marked burials, a large number of unmarked burials are also present on the site
African American Heritage Society
200 Church Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 469-1456
The African American Heritage Society, Inc. was founded on September 12, 1990 as a 501(c) 3 organization and has operated continuously with vision and purpose for thirty-two (32) years. Our mission is to preserve, promote, and integrate African American history, heritage, culture, and diversity in Pensacola and the Greater Gulf Coast Region through education and the humanities, and to continue to lead the area in supporting and promoting Cultural Tourism in Northwest Florida. Through quality programming, the African American Heritage Society ("the Society") has offered retrospective exhibits in the visual arts and humanities, performing arts programs, cultural festivals, as well as educational lectures, all highlighting a broad spectrum of the African American unique and creative influences and contributions to American life. Please click the link above entitled 'chronological history & record of events' for a listing of the many transformative presentations that we have presented in Pensacola and the surrounding Greater Gulf Coast Region.
10 Places in Pensacola to Honor and Celebrate Black History
Pensacola: The Birthplace of the First Black Four-Star Air Force General
Pensacola: The Birthplace of the First Black Four-Star Air Force General
In Pensacola, we love our deep and abiding connection to the military.
Generations of young women and men from Northwest Florida have gone on to make their families and communities proud with their service in all branches of the armed forces. So, you really must do something special to stand out in the locals’ eyes.
Generations of young women and men from Northwest Florida have gone on to make their families and communities proud with their service in all branches of the armed forces. So, you really must do something special to stand out in the locals’ eyes.
An Insider’s Look at Black History Month in Pensacola
An Insider’s Look at Black History Month in Pensacola
Sometimes it’s fun just to learn, other times it’s learning how to have fun. Black History Month in Pensacola is just that, a time of learning and celebration. This gives me (and so many of my friends) the chance to celebrate and reflect on the beautiful and strong history of African-Americans in Pensacola. Won’t you join me?
Multicultural Pensacola
